Universal repository for holding repeatedly accessible information

ABSTRACT

A device and method are described for a universal analytical data mart and data structure for same. The analytical data mart (ADM) associated data structure is designed to allow data from disparate sources to be integrated, enabling streamlined business intelligence, reporting and ad hoc analysis. Conceptually, the ADM enables analytics and business intelligence from multiple frames of reference including people, such as parties and actors including individuals and organizations, places, such as addresses with geographic information at various levels of view, objects, such as insured properties, automobiles and machinery, and events, milestones which happen at points in time and provide analytical/business value.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/928,367, filed Oct. 30, 2015, which is incorporated by reference asif fully set forth.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is related to an outlier system for grouping ofcharacteristics and a universal repository for holding repeatedlyaccessible information.

BACKGROUND

An entity, such as an insurance company, may want to analyze or “mine”large amounts of data. For example, an insurance company might want toanalyze tens of thousands of insurance claim files to look for patterns(e.g., a particular type of injury has occurred more frequently foremployees who work in a particular industry). An entity might analyzethis data in connection with different types of applications, and,moreover, different applications may need to analyze the datadifferently. For example, the term “IV” might referent to an “InsuredVehicle” when it appears in an automobile accident report and to“Intra-Venous” when it appears in a medical file. It can be difficult toidentify patterns across such large amounts of data and different typesof applications. In addition, manually managing the different needs andrequirements (e.g., different business logic rules) associated withdifferent applications can be a time consuming and error prone process.As a result, it would be desirable to provide systems and methods forefficiently and accurately preparing data for analysis, integrating thedata to the workflow of the business, and inputting rules of users.

SUMMARY

A device and method is disclosed for automatically grouping data basedon characteristics. The device and method include a communicationinterface for receiving data mining for component information, a storagemedium for storing the received data, and a processor for performing ananalysis on the received data to determine parameters included withinthe data and processing the data using relationships within the data togroup or isolate data point. The relationships enable the processor toidentify attributes associated with particular groups of the data.

A system and method includes a plurality of different data sourcesproviding data stored in a plurality of storage devices, at least afirst processor for searching each of the plurality of data sourcesusing a plurality of data mining techniques and identifying selectedportions of each data source, wherein the first processor furtheridentifies at least one pattern in at least one of the selectedportions, wherein the data mining techniques comprise at least machinelearning and text mining, a database for staging the selected portionsand patterns, wherein the staging includes preparation, reorganizationan management of the selected portions and patterns, and at least asecond processor for assembling the staged materials by incorporatinganalytics within the staged data, the second processor executinginstructions stored in a storage medium to run computer models on theassembled staged data to provide information about the assembled stageddata, and based on defined criteria produce a ranking added theassembled staged data and store the assembled staged data with theassociated ranking to universally reposit repeated access to theinformation and automatically activating at least two systems byproviding the associated ranking directly via at least one interface tothe at least two systems to allow access to the stored information withthe associated ranking.

A device and method are described for universally repositing repeatedlyaccessible information within the workflow of a business. A systemincluding a plurality of raw materials stored in a plurality of storagedevices, heavy industry mining the plurality of raw materials into auseable form, a database for staging the mined raw materials, whereinthe staging includes preparation, reorganization an management of themined materials, and at least one processor for assembling the stagedmaterials by incorporating analytics within the staged mined materials,the at least one processor executing instructions stored on the storagemedium to run models on the incorporated materials, and based on definedcriteria produce a ranking in the materials and automatically activatingsystems within the business by providing the associated ranking directlyvia at least one interface to the systems to allow access to the storedmaterials with the associated ranking.

A device and method are described for universally repositing repeatedlyaccessible information within the workflow of a business. The device andmethod includes a communication interface for receiving input data froma plurality of devices, wherein the received input data includesanalytics incorporated within the data, a storage medium for storingdata based on analytics performed on the data, the storage mediumfurther storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor,and a processor executing the instructions stored on the storage mediumto run models on the stored data, and based on defined criteria producea ranking in the data and store the data with the associated ranking.The communications interface publishes the associated ranking with thedata to allow access to the accessible information.

A system for evaluating data to support multiple insurance businessapplications is disclosed. The system includes a communication device toreceive input data from a plurality of sources, wherein the receivedinput data includes analytics incorporated within the data, a processorcoupled to the communication device, and a storage device incommunication with the processor and storing instructions adapted to beexecuted by the processor. The instructions predictively model the datato represent the data within a workflow of the business, and publishscores to tie data together and allow access to the multiple insurancebusiness applications.

A system for evaluating data is also provided. The system includes acommunication device to receive input data from a plurality of sources,a processor coupled to the communication device, and a storage device incommunication with the processor and storing instructions adapted to beexecuted by the processor, The instructions identify and derivecharacteristics of the data, plot the identified and derivedcharacteristics, determine groupings of data, profile the determinedgroupings of data, and generate referrals based on inclusion in a group.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more detailed understanding may be had from the following description,given by way of example in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a system block diagram of the insight supply chain;

FIG. 2 illustrates data grouped based on exemplary events;

FIG. 3 illustrates data grouped based on exemplary actors;

FIG. 4 illustrates data grouped based on exemplary places;

FIG. 5 illustrates data grouped based on exemplary things;

FIG. 6 illustrates several data storage elements for storing rawmaterials of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 heavy industry is illustrated as including data mining, machinelearning and text mining;

FIG. 8 illustrates that parts may include ADM, ARE, outlier engine andtext factory;

FIG. 9 illustrates elements of a predictive model;

FIG. 10 illustrates predictor variables, source systems, and text minedcharacteristics;

FIG. 11 illustrates the outlier engine with normative area, areas ofinterest and an outlier;

FIG. 12 illustrates a block diagram of the text factory;

FIG. 13 illustrates the assembly of the data;

FIG. 14 illustrates a dashboard representing the relationship of scoresfor events;

FIG. 15 illustrates a dashboard representing total dollars and outlierpercentage based on year;

FIG. 16 illustrates a dashboard of volume of a characteristic plottedagainst score for selected groups;

FIG. 17 illustrates a dashboard of a pie chart of outlier traits withincharacteristics;

FIG. 18 illustrates the components of product;

FIG. 19 illustrates exemplary items assigned a ranking in the scoringmart;

FIG. 20 illustrates a method performed in the scoring mart;

FIG. 21 illustrates a data set associated with the scoring mart;

FIG. 22 illustrates an example batch lookup of scores within the scoringmart;

FIG. 23 illustrates an example batch lookup of scores within the scoringmart;

FIG. 24 illustrates an aspect of the scoring mart allowing identifyingthe speed of change based scores;

FIG. 25 illustrates an aspect of the scoring mart allowing a return ofentities with more than one score;

FIG. 26 illustrates an aspect of the scoring mart allowing theaggregation of scores from one entity onto another entity;

FIG. 27 illustrates the output through distribution;

FIG. 28 illustrates a method performed in an insight supply chain;

FIG. 29 illustrates an example computing device that may be used toimplement features described herein with reference to FIGS. 1-28; and

FIG. 30 illustrates a mobile device that is a more specific example ofthe computing device of FIG. 29.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

An enterprise may want to analyze or “mine” large amounts of data, suchas text data, images, documents, and voice data that may be receivedfrom various sources. By way of example, an insurance company might wantto analyze tens of thousands of insurance claim text files includingimages that may be included with a claim to look for patterns (e.g., tofind patterns of factors that may help indicate a likely recovery periodlength will be associated with a particular type of injury). An entitymight analyze this data in connection with different types ofapplications and that different applications may need to analyze thedata differently. An outlier engine may be used analyze the data todetermine data points that may fit with other data points and be groupedtogether and/or determine data points that do not fit with other datapoints. Based on these grouping or exclusions, characteristics may beidentified and derived from the data. A scoring mart may be used toprovide integration into the workflow and input rules/business rules ofusers.

A device and method is disclosed for automatically grouping data basedon characteristics. The device and method include a communicationinterface for receiving data mining for component information, a storagemedium for storing the received data, and a processor for performing ananalysis on the received data to determine parameters included withinthe data and processing the data using relationships within the data togroup or isolate data point. The relationships enable the processor toidentify attributes associated with particular groups of the data.

A system and method includes a plurality of different data sourcesproviding data stored in a plurality of storage devices, at least afirst processor for searching each of the plurality of data sourcesusing a plurality of data mining techniques and identifying selectedportions of each data source, wherein the first processor furtheridentifies at least one pattern in at least one of the selectedportions, wherein the data mining techniques comprise at least machinelearning and text mining, a database for staging the selected portionsand patterns, wherein the staging includes preparation, reorganizationan management of the selected portions and patterns, and at least asecond processor for assembling the staged materials by incorporatinganalytics within the staged data, the second processor executinginstructions stored in a storage medium to run computer models on theassembled staged data to provide information about the assembled stageddata, and based on defined criteria produce a ranking added theassembled staged data and store the assembled staged data with theassociated ranking to universally reposit repeated access to theinformation and automatically activating at least two systems byproviding the associated ranking directly via at least one interface tothe at least two systems to allow access to the stored information withthe associated ranking.

A system for evaluating data to support multiple insurance businessapplications is disclosed. The system includes a communication device toreceive input data from a plurality of sources, wherein the receivedinput data includes analytics incorporated within the data, a processorcoupled to the communication device, and a storage device incommunication with the processor and storing instructions adapted to beexecuted by the processor. The instructions predictively model the datato represent the data within a workflow of the business, and publishscores to tie data together and allow access to the multiple insurancebusiness applications.

A system for evaluating data is also provided. The system includes acommunication device to receive input data from a plurality of sources,a processor coupled to the communication device, and a storage device incommunication with the processor and storing instructions adapted to beexecuted by the processor, The instructions identify and derivecharacteristics of the data, plot the identified and derivedcharacteristics, determine groupings of data, profile the determinedgroupings of data, and generate referrals based on inclusion in a group.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system block diagram of the insight supply chain100. System 100 includes raw materials 110, heavy industry 120, parts130, assembly 140 product 150 and distribution 160 with names by way ofanalogy and not of requirement as discussed herein. As with a supplychain, system 100 begins with raw materials 110. These raw materials 110may generally include data that may be in one form or another or amyriad of different forms. Raw materials 110 generally refer to data andother information that may be beneficial or provide insight to abusiness or corporate environment. Generally, the data may be storedwithin databases and other rigid structures, such as data warehouses610, data lakes 630 that allow storage of varying forms of dataincluding images, documents, and voice files, for example, and datasupplied from third parties 620. Data contained within the insuranceindustry may include claim documents, policies, doctor reports, imagesof damage to vehicles, and the like. Data warehouses 610, data fromthird parties 620, and data lakes 630 are further described with respectto FIG. 6 below.

Raw materials 110, (the data), may be mined by heavy industry 120.Mining the data 710 includes the steps of taking the raw data andmanipulating the data into a useable form. This manipulation may includeformatting the data, relating the data, and structuring the data as wellas other conventional data mining techniques.

Additionally or alternatively, the manipulation may include machinelearning 720 which may include pattern recognition of the data. This mayinclude pattern/sequence labeling for a claim contained within the data.

Other mining may include text mining 730. This type of mining includesgenerally unstructured mining of data in the form of text. Text miningmay include analyzing the claim handler narrative where the narrative iswritten in a free form. Text mining, as will be described in more detailbelow, may include evaluating text data received from a myriad ofpotential sources, and aggregating and mapping the data to createcomposite text input data. Data mining 710, machine learning 720, andtext mining 730 are further described with respect to FIG. 7 below.

After the data is mined by heavy industry 120, the data may be stagedwith parts 130. In a similar fashion to the manufacturing industry,parts 130 become the building blocks for further manufacturing. In theanalysis being performed as described herein, parts 130 including thepreparation, reorganization and management of the data. This staging mayinclude reorganizing the data to accelerate access to the data. Datamanagement 810 may be included in the staging. This may include claimnotes, documents, social media and call transcripts consolidated basedon a specific feature, such as consolidating all of the data surroundinga claim for a car crash. This may include texts by witnesses, policereports, 911 calls, and the like organized based on the automobileclaim. Staging may also take the form of analytical analysis of data.This analysis may include the “what if” question, answer and associatedanalysis.

Staging may also include using an outlier engine 830 on the data togroup or isolate data points, and based on relationships within the dataconclude additional data about specific data points. For example, if adata point is grouped with other data points and the group includes highdoctor bills associated with back injuries, the data point may haveattributes associated with it based on the other members of the group.In this example, the grouping may allow a conclusion that the durationof doctor visits may also be above a threshold. Data management 810,outlier engine 830 and text factory 840 are further described withrespect to FIG. 8 below.

Staging the data includes grouping the mined observations by commoncentral components. For example, and with reference to FIG. 2, there isillustrated data grouped based on exemplary events 210. As may be seenin FIG. 2, the events 210 may be grouped according to auto claims 220property claims 230, invoices for repairs and parts 240, medical bills250, and handling milestones 260. Each of auto claims 220 propertyclaims 230, invoices for repairs and parts 240, medical bills 250, andhandling milestones 260 may be anchored to a common event 210. Event 210may be any meaningful concept within the company, for example.

Further in the example, and with reference to FIG. 3, there isillustrated data grouped based on exemplary actors 310. As may be seenin FIG. 3, people 310 may be grouped according to insureds 320,repairers 330, lawyers 340, and physicians 350. Each of insureds 320,repairers 330, lawyers 340, and physicians 350 may be anchored to acommon person 310. Person 310 may be any meaningful concept within thecompany, for example.

With reference to FIG. 4, there is illustrated data grouped based onexemplary places 410. As may be seen in FIG. 4, places 410 may begrouped according to insured location 420, damage path 430, and losslocation 440. Each of insured location 420, damage path 430, and losslocation 440 may be anchored to a common place 410. Place 410 may be anymeaningful concept within the company, for example.

With reference to FIG. 5, there is illustrated data grouped based onexemplary things 510. As may be seen in FIG. 5, things 510 may begrouped according to automobiles 520 and machinery 530. Each ofautomobiles 520 and machinery 530 may be anchored to things 510. Thing510 may be any meaningful concept within the company, for example.

Once the data is staged using parts 130, the data may be assembled 140.Assembly of the data includes performing analytics on the data. Theanalytics may include descriptive analytics 1310 including themanagement and reporting of the data. This may be relevant to thebusiness intelligence team, the finance group, actuarial data, andproduct data, for example.

Analytics may also include diagnostics analytics 1320 on the data.Diagnostics analysis of the data may include the “why” and “what if”type of data analysis. This type of data analysis may be relevant in theinsurance industry for actuarial forensics, for example.

Predictive/prescriptive analytics 1330 may also be performed on thedata. This may include actions that should be taken to prevent somethingfrom happening. For example, in the insurance industry, severe medicalissues may be lessened or eliminated by having yearly physicals. Thistype of analytics may be used in forensics research in the insuranceindustry, for example. Descriptive analytics 1310, diagnostic analytics1320, and predictive/prescriptive analytics are further described withrespect to FIG. 13 below.

Once the data is assembled, it may be packaged as a product 150. Theproduct may include business intelligence reporting 1810 of theassembled data. For example, a trigger based on yearly physicals mayprovide a discount on the insurance premiums since severe medical issuesare reduced by the occurrence of physicals. This type of reporting mayinclude human delivery reporting, for example. Human delivery reportingis the reporting of metrics found in the data in a form to be used by ahuman. For example, after analyzing data the probability of an eventoccurring may be reported to a human so that that person may act in acertain way based on the probability. If the likelihood of getting in acar accident is 90% at a certain time, and that information iscommunicated to a human, it is likely that the human would not travelduring that certain time so as to reduce the likelihood of beinginvolved in an accident.

The assembled data may also be packaged via a scoring mart 1820. Thescoring mart may provide a machine to machine product that integratesinto the workflow of the insurance company. Such workflow input mayinclude being input into rules of users and business rules, for example.Again using the physical example, if the business rules of issuing lifeinsurance are input, a discount based on yearly physicals mayautomatically be implemented via the scoring mart 1820. Businessintelligence reporting 1810 and scoring mart 1820 are further describedwith respect to FIG. 18 below.

After the product 150 is prepared, the data may be distributed 160 tothe various corporate systems. These may include workflow platforms forfraud investigation 2730, underwriting 2720, and claims administration2740, for example. Again with the physical example, the underwritingsystem may be provided the product that related to the use of yearlyphysicals providing a discount in life insurance premiums.

Distribution 160 may also include reporting the product throughSharePoint or self-help. This may include a web interface on theinsurance company's web page that allows insureds to access informationthat may provide information on reducing their insurance premiums. Inthe physical example discussed throughout, the web page may provide theinsured information that directs the insured to seek yearly physicals inorder to lower their life insurance premium. Internal reporting 2710,underwriting 2720, fraud investigation 2730, and claim administration2740 are described below with respect to FIG. 27.

For example, and with reference to FIG. 6, there is illustrated severaldata storage elements for storing raw materials 110 of FIG. 1. Rawmaterials 110 may be included in a data warehouse (DW) 610. DW 610,which may also be referred to as an enterprise data warehouse (EDW), isa central repository or repositories of integrated data from one or moredisparate sources of data. DW 610 stores current and historical data andmay be relied upon to create analytical reports for knowledge workersthroughout an enterprise. DW 610 included structured data. Examples ofreports could range from annual and quarterly comparisons and trends todetailed daily sales analyses. Generally, the data stored in DW 610 isuploaded from the operational systems, including data from marketing andsales. The data may pass through an operational data store foradditional operations before it is used in DW 610. Often DW 610 refersto rigid structure data.

DW 610 may include data from portions of the company 612 that mayinclude sales, claims, marketing, and supply, for example. This raw datamay be stored in an integration layer 614 that prepares for staging. Theintegration layer 614 may output structured data for staging. The datamay be held in a data warehouse 616 and stored in data marts 618.

Raw materials 110 may also include third party data 620. Third partydata 620 may include any data that is purchased, or comes from outsidethe system 100. This may include data from external providers and may beaggregated from numerous websites. System 100 may be provided purchasedthird-party data 620 and data 220 may be shared within system 100.

Third party data 620 may include data that is stored in a data storagedevice 622. This data may be accumulated in an accessible data device624. The data may be received via a communication link 626 and storedwithin the company in a data warehouse 628. Communication link 626 mayprovide a point-to-point portal or marketplace for third party dataand/or aggregated data such as from an aggregator.

Raw materials 110 may also include data stored in a data lake 630. Datalake 630 may include a storage repository or a repository that holds avast amount of data generally in its native format. While DW 610 storesdata in files or folders, data lake 630 may use a flat architecture tostore data. Each data element in data lake 630 may be assigned anidentifier and tagged with a set of tags. When a business questionarises, data lake 630 may be queried for relevant data, and that smallerset of data may then be analyzed to help answer the question. Morespecifically, data lake 630 houses data that is in large data pool inwhich the schema and data requirements are not defined until the data isqueried.

Data lake 630 may include data storage 632 that holds the data. Thisdata may then be stored in a bunch of disks (JBOD) 634. The data inbunch of disks 634 may be accessed and linked via SSA/flash 636 andstored within a bunch of flash memory (JBOF) 638.

Raw materials 110 are provided to or accessed by heavy industry 120.Referring now also to FIG. 7, heavy industry 120 is illustrated asincluding data mining 710, machine learning 720 and text mining 730.

Data mining 710 may include the classical types of data manipulationincluding relational data, formatted and structured data. Data mining710 generally involves the extraction of information from raw materials110 and transformation into an understandable structure. Data mining 710may be performed on the raw materials 110. Data mining 710 may be usedto analyze large quantities of data to extract previously unknown,interesting patterns such as groups of data records, unusual records,and dependencies. Data mining involves six common classes of tasks: 1)anomaly detection; 2) dependency modeling; 3) clustering; 4)classification; 5) regression, and 6) summarization.

Anomaly detection, also referred to as outlier/change/deviationdetection may provide the identification of unusual data records, thatmight be interesting or data errors that require further investigation.

Dependency modeling, also referred to as association rule learning,searches for relationships between variables, such as gathering data oncustomer purchasing habits. Using association rule learning,associations of products that may be bought together may be determinedand this information may be used for marketing purposes.

Clustering is the task of discovering groups and structures in the datathat are in some way or another “similar”, without using knownstructures in the data.

Classification is the task of generalizing known structure to apply tonew data. For example, an e-mail program might attempt to classify ane-mail as “legitimate” or as “spam”.

Regression attempts to find a function which models the data with theleast error.

Summarization provides a more compact representation of the data set,including visualization and report generation.

Data mining 710 may include data stored in storage devices 712 andaccumulated in data 714. This data may be mined and combined in databaseor table 715, for example. This data may then be correlated in acorrelator 717. The correlated data may then be analyzed and reported719.

Machine learning 720 may include performing pattern recognition on dataor data sets contained within raw materials 110. This can be a reviewfor pattern or sequence labels for claims for example. Machine learningexplores the construction and study of raw materials 110 usingalgorithms that can learn from and make predictions on such data. Suchalgorithms operate using a model such as from example inputs in order tomake data-driven predictions or decisions, rather than strictly usingstatic program instructions.

Machine learning 720 may be performed using data stored on a storagedevice 722. This data may then be accumulated in a storage device 724.Machine learning may then be performed including supervised andunsupervised learning 725. This learning may include processing usingclustering, associating, regression analysis, and classifying in aprocessor 727. The processed data may then be analyzed and reported 729.

Text mining 730 includes using text from raw materials 110 such as claimhandling narrative. Generally, text mining 730 involves unstructuredfields. Text mining 730 involves the process of deriving high-qualityinformation from text. High-quality information is typically derivedthrough the devising of patterns and trends through means such asstatistical pattern learning. Text mining 730 generally involvesstructuring the input data from raw materials 110, deriving patternswithin the structured data, and finally evaluation and interpretation ofthe output. Text analysis involves information retrieval, lexicalanalysis to study word frequency distributions, pattern recognition,tagging/annotation, information extraction, data mining techniquesincluding link and association analysis, visualization, and predictiveanalytics. The overarching goal is, essentially, to turn text into datafrom raw materials 110 for analysis, via application of natural languageprocessing (NLP) and analytical methods.

Text mining 730 may be performed on data stored on data storage devices732. This data may be accumulated in data storage 734. The data may bescanned for words or sets of words and the word count may be monitored737. The monitored and counted data may then be analyzed and reported739.

A typical application is to scan a set of documents written in a naturallanguage and either model the document set for predictive classificationpurposes or populate a database or search index with the informationextracted.

Parts 130 may be the staging area for the analytics. For example, inparts 130 the data may be reorganized to accelerate those queries thatare frequently requested. Parts 130 may include analytical data mart(ADM) 810, ARE 820, outlier engine 830 and text factory 840 as depictedin FIG. 8.

Analytical data mart, sometimes referred to as ADM, 810 may include aninterface 812 for receiving data from heavy industry 120. This receiveddata may be processed using processors and servers 814. The processeddata, or unprocessed data, may be stored in repository storage 816. Thedata may then be accumulated on a data storage device 818.

Text factory 840 may include an interface 842 for receiving data fromheavy industry 120. This received data may be processed as describedherein using processors and servers 844. The processed data, orunprocessed data, may be stored in repository storage 846. The data maythen be accumulated on a data storage device 848.

Outlier engine 830 receives data input from a machine learning unit 320that establishes pattern recognition and pattern/sequence labels for aclaim, for example. This may include billing, repair problems, andtreatment patterns, for example. This data may be manipulated withinoutlier engine 830 such as by providing a multiple variable graph aswill be described herein below. Outlier engine 830 may provide theability to identify or derive characteristics of the data, find clumpsof similarity in the data, profile the clumps to find areas of interestwithin the data, generate referrals based on membership in an area ofinterest within the data, and generate referrals based on migrationtoward and area of interest in the data. These characteristics may beidentified or derived based on relationships with other data points thatare common with a given data point. For example, if a data point isgrouped with another data point, the attributes of the other data pointmay be derived to be with the data point. Such derivation may be basedon clumps of similarity, for example. Such an analysis may be performedusing a myriad of scores as opposed to a single variable.

Outlier engine 830 may include an interface 832 for receiving data fromheavy industry 120. This received data may be processed as describedherein using processors and servers 834. The processed data, orunprocessed data, may be stored in repository storage 836. The data maythen be accumulated on a data storage device 838.

Outlier analysis is generally performed on unweighted data with novariable to model to. This analysis may include identifying and/orcalculating a set of classifying characteristics. Referring now to FIG.9, in the case of a loss or claim 910 the classifying characteristics920 may include loss state 930, claimant age 940, injury type 950, andreporting 955.

Additionally, these classifying characteristics 920 may be calculated bycomparing a discrete observation 960 against a benchmark 970 and use thedifferences 980 as the characteristic. For example, the number of lineitems on a bill compared to the average for bills of the type may bedetermined. A ratio may be used so that if the average number of lineitems is 4 and a specific bill has 8, the characteristic may be theratio, in the example a value of 2.

An algorithm may be used to group the target, such as claims forexample, into sets with shared characteristics. Each group or cluster ofdata may be profiled and those that represent sets of observations thatare atypical are labeled as outliers or anomalies. A record is made foreach observation with all of the classifying characteristics, and valuesused to link the record back to the source data. The label for thecluster that the observation belonged to, whether it is normal or anoutlier with a data of classification is recorded.

Outlier engine 830 may be used, for example, to utilize characteristicssuch as binary questions, claim duration, and peer group metric tomeasure the relative distance from a peer group. This enables outlierengine 830 to identify claims that have high ratio and K meansclustering.

For example, when performing invoice analytics on doctor invoices tocheck for conformance including determining if doctors are performingthe appropriate testing, a ratio of duration of therapy to averageduration therapy may be utilized. A score of 1 may be assigned to thoseratios that are the same as the average, a score of 2 may be assigned tothose ratios that are twice as long and 0.5 assigned to the ratios thatare half as long. Outlier engine 830 may then group data by the scoredata point to determine if a score of 2 finds similarity with othertwice as long durations, which classification enables the data toprovide other information that may accompany this therapy including, byway of example, a back injury.

The ratio of billed charges may also be compared to the average. Asimilar scoring system may be utilized where a score of 1 is assigned tothose ratios that are the same as the average, a score of 2 may beassigned to those ratios that are twice as high and 0.5 assigned to theratios that are half as much. Similarly, the ratio of the number ofbills/claim to average may also be compared and scored. The measure ofwhether a procedure matches a diagnosis may also be compared and scored.The billed charges score may be used based on the diagnosis to determineif a given biller is consistently providing ratios that are twice ashigh as others.

According to one aspect, things that do not correlate may be dropped asunique situations. In a perfect scenario, collinearity may be achievedwith mutually exclusive independent variables. That is duplicativevariables that correlate in their outcomes may be dropped. Outlierengine 830 may also utilize a predictive model. As is generallyunderstood in the art, a predictive model is a model that utilizesstatistics to predict outcomes. Alternatively, in an implementation,predictive modeling may not be based on statistics, instead includingassociation rules, sequence mining, and linear/non-linear optimization.Outlier engine 830 may use a predictive model that may be embedded inworkflow, for example. Such a model may include biases of end users andpriorities and/or may include a leap of faith. Such a model may benefitfrom reuse because the model may be honed based on previous uses. Theoutput of outlier engine 830 may be provided to the analytics of thesupply chain.

Referring now also to FIG. 10, there is illustrated an example datasystem for the outlier engine 830. The outlier engine 830 becomes, alongwith the data available from source systems and characteristics derivedthrough text mining, a source of information describing a characteristic1010 including an event 210, person 310, place 410 and/or thing 510 thatis the subject of a predictive model. Predictor variables may includesource systems 1022, text mine 1030, and outlier 1040. Using claim as anexample, source systems 1020 may include loss state 930, claimant age940, injury type 950 and reporting 955 including the channel the claimwas reported through such as phone, web, or attorney call, for example.

Data may be considered standard data from text mine 1030. Using claim asan example, prior injury 1033, smoking history 1035, and employmentstatus 1038 may be included.

Outlier 1040 characteristics may also be included. Outliercharacteristics 1040 may include physician/billing information 1043,such as if the physician is a 60-70% anomaly biller, treatment pattern1045, such as if the treatment pattern is an anomaly, and the agency1048, such as if the agency is an outlier for high loss ratio insureds.

Referring now also to FIG. 11, outlier engine 830 is illustrated with anormative area 1110 wherein all target characteristics are typical, afirst area of interest 1120 wherein there is an unusual procedure forthe provider specialty and an unusual pattern of treatment for theinjury, a second area of interest 1130 wherein there is an unusualnumber of invoices and the presence of co-morbidity/psycho-socialcondition, and outlier 1140 that is too far from any clump and includesa unique profile.

For example, an invoice belonging to a set may be analyzed and presentedwith characteristics of that invoice including doctor and treatment forexample as well as the injury suffered. The axes shown in FIG. 11 may bedefined by attributes of the group of invoices. Data may be groupedbased on sharing attributes or qualities, like duration of treatment foran injury for example. Other data may fall in between groups asdescribed. The groupings of data become an important attribute of thedata fitting that group.

Referring now also to FIG. 12, a block diagram of text factory 840 isshown. Text factory 840 includes a text mining platform 1250 thatreceives information from a semantic rules database 1210, a claim system1220, one or more text input data sources 1230 (e.g., internal to aninsurance enterprise), and/or external third party text data 1232 (e.g.,reports issued by the National Highway Safety Board). The text miningplatform 1250 might be, for example, associated with a personal computer(PC), laptop computer, an enterprise server, a server farm, and/or adatabase or similar storage devices. The text mining platform 1250 may,according to some embodiments, be associated with a businessorganization or an insurance provider.

According to some embodiments, an “automated” text mining platform 1250may access semantic rules in the semantic rules database 1210 to minethe information from the claim system 1220 and/or the other text inputdata sources 1230. As used herein, the term “automated” may refer to,for example, actions that can be performed with little or no humanintervention.

The text mining platform 1250 may store information into and/or retrieveinformation from the semantic rules database 1210 and/or a text miningresult database that is output to various external insuranceapplications 1260 (e.g., software applications or devices associatedwith subrogation, fraud detection, and/or recovery factor analysis). Thesemantic rules database 1210 may be a locally stored relational databaseor reside remote from the text mining platform 1250. The term“relational” may refer to, for example, a collection of data itemsorganized as a set of formally described tables from which data can beaccessed. Moreover, a Relational Database Management System (“RDBMS”)may be used in connection with any of the database tables describedherein. According to some embodiments, a graphical administratorinterface 1270 may provide the ability to access and/or modify thesemantic rules database 1210 via the text mining platform 1250. Theadministrator interface 1270 might, for example, let an administratordefine terms, dictionaries, mapping rules, etc. associated with textmining. The data sources 1230, 1232 may be thought of as “publishers” ofinformation to be consumed by the text mining platform 1250, and theinsurance applications 1260 may be considered “subscribers” toinformation created by the text mining platform 1250. Moreover, notethat the text mining platform 1250 may operate asynchronously and/orindependently of any insurance application 1260.

Although a single text mining platform 1250 is shown in FIG. 12, anynumber of such devices may be included. Moreover, various devicesdescribed herein might be combined according to embodiments of thepresent invention. For example, in some embodiments, the text miningplatform 1250 and semantic rules database 1210 might be co-locatedand/or may comprise a single apparatus.

FIG. 13 illustrates the assembly 140 of the data. This includes the manylevels of analytics used in business including business intelligence anddata mining, optimization and simulation, and forecasting. Descriptiveanalytics 1310 may be used. Descriptive analytics 1310 is the businessintelligence and data mining aspect of analytics and includes themanagement and reporting of the analytics. Generally, descriptiveanalytics 1310 may view data and analyze past events for insight aboutapproaching the future. Descriptive analytics 1310 may analyze pastperformance by mining historical data to look at the reasons for pastsuccess and failures, such as post-mortem analysis. Descriptive modelsmay be used to quantify relationships in data to groups by groupingportions of the data including the many different relationships that mayexist within the data.

Descriptive analytics 1310 may include standard management reports andinformation referred to as management information systems (MIS). Thisreports what is and what has happened. The descriptive analytics 1310may be metric heavy having many measures of performance of the businesswith a limited set of attributes used to filter and display the metrics.Common examples include daily performance dashboards, financial resultsreports, inventory and aging reports, scorecards of relative performanceamong a set of employees, partners with a shared perspective.

Specifically, FIG. 13 may include data 1312 in repositories that may beaccumulated into one or a singularly accessible storage 1314 to beprocessed according to the descriptive analytics method on a processoror other mainframe 1316. The resulting analytics 1318 result from thisprocessing.

Similarly, FIG. 13 may include data 1322 in repositories that may beaccumulated into one or a singularly accessible storage 1324 to beprocessed according to the diagnostic analytics method on a processor orother mainframe 1326. The resulting analytics 1328 result from thisprocessing.

FIG. 13 may include data 1332 in repositories that may be accumulatedinto one or a singularly accessible storage 1334 to be processedaccording to the predictive/prescriptive analytics method on a processoror other mainframe 1336. The resulting analytics 1338 result from thisprocessing.

The present system may use dashboards to represent performance byshowing revenue for a given year, debt-to-equity and return on equity aswell as net profit margin and gross profit margin comparisons, representfinancial results report showing revenue, earnings and dividends,profitability balance sheet, cash flow, industry, and other facts,represent inventory and aging report showing invoices and balances due,and represent a scorecard of relative performance page showing signups,conversions and % visitors, by way of non-limiting examples only.Additionally, outputs and scorecards may represent other facets of thepresent system. For example, FIG. 14 illustrates a scorecard for events,such as events 210, for example, being plotted based on a first score,score 1, against a second score, score 2. Score 1 is illustrated asranging from 0 to 1000. Similarly, score 2 ranges from 0 to 1000.Groupings of the events may be understood or realized using such adashboard. Similar dashboards and scorecards may be presented for person310, place 410, and thing 510, by way of example.

FIG. 15 illustrates a dashboard representing total dollars plottedagainst service year and includes as an overlay outlier percent by year.This dashboard may enable a relationship to be determined betweenoutlier percent and total dollars. As would be understood, othervariables may be presented in such a dashboard to enable relationshipthere between to be realized. One such relationship shown in FIG. 15includes outlier percentage decreasing as total dollars increases inyear 2014.

FIG. 16 illustrates a dashboard representing volume of a characteristic1010 plotted against score for three respective groups. In thisillustration, group 1 demonstrates a bell curve of volume centeredapproximately centered on a score of 400. Group 2 demonstrates increasedvolume at lower scores. Group 3 demonstrates a fluctuating volumerelated to score.

FIG. 17 illustrates a dashboard of a pie chart of outlier traits. Inthis illustration, the pie chart is distributed between two portionsrepresented as blue and orange. The orange portion includes threeoutlier traits, trait 1, trait 2, and trait 3, with trait 3 being mostrepresented followed by trait 2 at approximately 50% of trait 3, andtrait 1 at approximately 50% of trait 2.

Assembly 140 may also include diagnostic analytics 1320. Diagnosticanalytics 1320 includes the “why” and “what if” aspects of the dataanalytics.

Assembly 140 may also include predictive and/or prescriptive analytics1330. Predictive and/or prescriptive analytics 1330 may include the typeof information that may be included to make or prevent an event.Predictive and/or prescriptive analytics 1330 may include analyticsinvolving forecasting. Predictive and/or prescriptive analytics 1330includes the optimization and simulation portion of the analytics.

Predictive analytics 1330 includes the processes that turn data intoactionable information. Predictive analytics 1330 may use data todetermine the probable future outcome of an event of the likelihood ofcertain things occurring. Predictive analytics 1330 may include anynumber of statistical techniques including modeling, machine learning,data mining, game theory where there is current and historical factsthat are analyzed to make predictions about future events. This mayinclude using models to synthesize patterns in the data to identifyrisks and opportunities.

Prescriptive analytics 1330 may include the synthetization of data,rules, to make predictions and provide suggestions to take advantage ofthe predictions. Prescriptive analytics 1330 goes beyond predictiveanalytics 1330 by not only predicting future outcomes but alsosuggesting action to leverage the predictions and identifying theimplications of each decision.

Diagnostic analytics 1320 starts during the descriptive analytics 1310and extends into predictive analytics 1330. Diagnostic analytics 1320gets into root cause analysis and data discovery and exploration.Diagnostic analytics 1320 aids in understanding why things happened toenable improvement in business operations and processes. Diagnosticanalytics 1320 provides the ability to drill down into all types of datacoming from many different sources.

FIG. 18 illustrates the components of product 150. Specifically, product150 may include business intelligence (BI) reporting 1810 and scoringmart 1820.

BI reporting 1810 may include forms of human delivery reporting. BIreporting 1810 may include housing the data in data storage 1812 andaccumulating the data in a singular storage 1814. The data may beprovided in spreadsheets 1816 and/or other known reporting mechanisms.Spreadsheets 1816 may include other reporting that provides the businessintelligence to humans, for example.

Scoring mart 1820 may contain the final output of a broad set of scoringprocesses used in assembly 140. This scoring mart 1820 may include thepredictive/prescriptive analytics 1330 described hereinabove. Scoringmart 1820 may utilize a rules-based scoring system and may aggregate thescores summarizing from one entity to another. Scoring mart 1820 mayinclude attributes or metadata associated with the score as will bediscussed herein below.

Scoring mart 1820 may include data storage 1822 for housing data fromassembly 140. The data may be accumulated within a data repository 1824and scores may be output per queries from a database or by reporting1829. Reporting 1829 may generally take the form of any transfer toother computers or systems.

Referring now additionally to FIG. 19, which illustrates exemplary itemsthat may be assigned a ranking in the scoring mart 1820. Items mayinclude claims 1910, policies 1920, agents 1930, claimants 1940, andproviders 1950. Scoring mart 1820 may be the repository to archive therank of any item within the system. As an example, a fraud model mayscore claims 1910 based on the priority to engage a special investigatorto investigate that claim for fraud, waste and abuse. Claims 1910 may bedistributed based on priority, and that priority may then be convertedinto a score and stored in scoring mart 1820. Scoring mart 1820 may holdscores for any item that may be assigned a ranking within the presentsystem.

Additionally, scoring mart 1820 may hold more than one score per item.For example, a fraud score may be stored for an item based on a 30 dayscore and another on a 3 year score, as the fraud score may bedifferent. This may occur because the score for the first 30 days waslower because the likelihood or level of suspected fraud was low, andthen the score for fraud increased as additional actions occurred overthe next 3 years. The scoring mart 1820 may be used to rank doctorswithin the system each quarter, for example. Underwriting may wish toscore agencies using 12 reasons.

FIG. 20 illustrates a method 2000 performed in the scoring mart 1820.Method 2000 may include running models at step 2010. Once the models arerun at step 2010, method 2000 may produce a ranking based on the purposeof that model at step 2020. Records are created in the scoring mart 1820for each item scored with the date of the, the identity of what isscored, the identity of the specific scoring process, the raw score, anormalized score to simplify consumption rules, a value of whether thisscore is part of a holdback sample, a date range over which the score isconsidered to be valid at step 2030. At step 2040, method 2000 maydetermine what qualifies for holdback. The score may be verified againsta prior score at step 2050 when the scoring mart 1820 searches itshistory to determine if there is a prior score for the scored item andscoring process. If the scoring mart 1820 determines there is a prior ascore, that prior score may be expired as of the day prior to the newrecord. At step 2060, scoring mart 1820 may insert the new record with avalid date range, generally starting with the insert date andpotentially have no end date.

Referring now to FIG. 21, there is illustrated a data set associatedwith scoring mart 1820. As shown in FIG. 21, the data may include a dateof the score 2110, the model 2120, the line of business 2130, the entitytype 2140, the entity identification 2150, the normalized score 2160,and the holdback 2170. The line of business 2130 may provide a tagrelated to the line of business being represented and the model beingused. Entity type 2140 identifies the business entity associated withthe score. Entity type 2140 may include the claim, policy, TIN, agency,or the like. Entity identification 2150 identifies the element that thescore attaches to in the format determined by entity type 2140.Normalized score 2160 may be a score within the range 0-999. Inaddition, a holdback flag 2170 allowing scores to be reserved as controlfor measurement.

FIG. 22 illustrates an example batch lookup of scores within scoringmart 1820. As illustrated in FIG. 22, scores that meet a set of criteriamay be looked up in batch. Further, those scores may be used forworkflow triggers and reporting. For example, in FIG. 22, a search forall scores for line of business 2130 of worker's compensation (WC) and amodel 2120 of large losses having a normalized score 2160 of a valuegreater than 500 not identified with a holdback 2170 may be performed.The result of a batch lookup given these parameters may be data points2210. In this batch lookup, the other data points 2220, 2230, 2240,2250, 2260, 2270 may not be included in the result of the batch lookup2210, based on at least of model 2120, line of business 2130, normalizedscore 2160, and holdback 2170. Data points 2220, 2270 may not beincluded in the batch lookup result because of each of model 2220, lineof business 2130, normalized score 2160 is not positively identified.Data point 2230 may not be included in the batch lookup result becausethe normalized score 2160 is not greater than the requested 500. Datapoint 2240 is not included at least because holdback 2170 is positive.Data points 2250, 2260 may not be included in the batch lookup resultbecause normalized score 2160 is not positively identified as beinggreater than 500.

FIG. 23 illustrates an example batch lookup of scores within scoringmart 1820. As illustrated in FIG. 23, a search for all scores that meeta set of criteria may be looked up in real-time. Further, those scoresmay be used for workflow triggers and reporting. For example, in FIG.23, a search for all scores for line of business 2130 of WC and a model2120 of large loss having a normalized score 2160 of a value greaterthan 500 not identified with a holdback 2170 may be performed. Theresult of a real-time lookup given these parameters may be data points2310. In this real-time lookup, the other data points 2320, 2330, 2340,2350, 2360, 2370 may not be included in the result of the real-timelookup 2310, based on at least of model 2120, line of business 2130,normalized score 2160, and holdback 2170. Data points 2320, 2370 may notbe included in the real-time lookup result because of each of model2120, line of business 2130, normalized score 2160 is not positivelyidentified. Data point 2330 may not be included in the real-time lookupresult because the normalized score 2160 is not greater than therequested 500. Data point 2340 is not included at least because holdback2170 is positive. Data points 2350, 2360 may not be included in thereal-time lookup result because normalized score 2160 is not positivelyidentified as being greater than 500.

FIG. 24 illustrates an aspect of scoring mart 1820 allowingidentification of the “speed of change” based scores. As shown in FIG.24, scores that exhibit a rate of change over time that is faster than adetermined criterion may be identified. For example, as identified inFIG. 24, a search for all scores for line of business 2130 of WC and amodel 2120 of large loss having a normalized score 2160 with a slopegreater than 10 not identified with a holdback 2170 may be performed.The result in this example may include data points 2410, 2420 havingidentical entity identification 2150 value of 23456. Data point 2410identifies the normalized score 2160 as a value of 400 on 6/1/2014. Datapoint 2420 identifies the normalized score 2160 as a value of 700 on6/30/2014. The slope of entity identification 2150 value of 23456 may becalculated based on the equation:

RISE/RUN=(700−400)/(6/30/2014−6/1/2014)=300/29=10.3.

Since a slope of 10.3 is greater than the requested slope of 10, datapoints 2410, 2420 entity identification 2150 value of 23456 arereturned.

FIG. 25 illustrates an aspect of scoring mart 1820 allowing a return ofentities with more than one score. As shown in FIG. 25, claims that havea high score on more than one model at a time may be identified. Forexample, as identified in FIG. 25, a search for all claims for line ofbusiness 2130 of WC and a model 2120 of large loss having a normalizedscore 2160 greater than 500 and a model 2120 of fraud having anormalized score 2160 greater than 600. The result in this example mayinclude data points 2510, 2520 having identical entity identification2150 value of 23456. Data point 2510 includes a model 2120 of large losshaving a normalized score 2160 value of 700 (greater than 500) whiledata point 2520 includes a model 2120 of fraud having a normalized score2160 value of 650 (greater than 600).

FIG. 26 illustrates an aspect of scoring mart 1820 allowing theaggregation of scores from one entity onto another entity. As shown inFIG. 26, scores that exhibit a rate of change over time that is fasterthan a criterion may be referred. For example, as identified in FIG. 26,the normalized score 2160 of data points included in group 2610 is 250,700, 200, 650, and 300. The average of these normalized scores 2160 is avalue of 420 as shown for data point 2620. The average normalized score2160 of a model 2120 of large loss with entity type 2140 of claims for agiven policy in a time period may calculated and that normalized score2160 may be entered as a score at the policy level, data point 2620.Similarly, although not shown, the average fraud score across all claimsfor an agent in a time period may be performed and that average scoremay be inserted as a score at the agency level.

FIG. 27 illustrates the output through distribution 160. Distribution160 may include internal reporting 2710, underwriting 2720, fraudinvestigation 2730, and claims administration 2740.

Internal reporting 2710 may be the external interface to clients of agiven business. Internal reporting 2710 may include the web interfaceportal of a client, for example. Alternatively or additionally, internalreporting 2710 may include representatives that work in offices andinteract with potential clients.

Internal reporting 2710 may include a communications interface 2712 fortransceiving data from product 150. This data may be included in aformat from product 150 such as spreadsheets 2714 and/or other knownreporting formats. The internal reporting 2710 may then be used toprocess an output 2719.

Underwriting 2720, fraud investigation 2730, and claim administration2740 represent specific systems within a client. These systems includeand represent any of a myriad of workflow platforms that may exist in abusiness or corporate environment. Underwriting 2720 may represent thefraud system within an insurance company. Fraud investigation 2730 mayrepresent the underwriting system found within an insurance company.Claim administration 2740 represents the claims handling system foundwithin an insurance company.

Underwriting 2720 may include an interface 2722 for transceivinginformation with product 150. This information may then be stored in astorage unit 2724. Processors 2725 may act on the stored data and outputunderwriting conclusions 2729.

Fraud investigation 2730 may include an interface 2732 for transceivinginformation with product 150. This information may then be stored in astorage unit 2734. Processors 2735 may act on the stored data and outputFraud conclusions 2739.

Claim administration 2740 may include an interface 2742 for transceivinginformation with product 150. This information may then be stored in astorage unit 2744. Processors 2745 may act on the stored data and outputclaim administration 2749.

FIG. 28 illustrates a method 2800 performed in an insight supply chain.Method 2800 includes capturing data at step 2810. This data may be dataused within an organization and may be stored within the computersystems of the organization. Data may also include information gleanedduring method 2800, for example. This data may be housed within a datawarehouse, a data lake, or even provided by a third party.

Method 2800 may also include mining the data at step 2820. The mining ofthe data 2820 is the heavy industry of determining the contents of thedata. Mining the data 2820 may include traditional data miningtechniques, machine learning and text mining, for example.

Method 2800 may include staging the data at step 2830. Staging the datamay include reorganizing the data to accelerate the use of the data orthe analytics performed on the data. This may include an analytical datamart (ADM), an outlier engine, and a text factory. Staging the data atstep 2830 is the data management step of method 2800.

Method 2800 may include assembling the data at step 2840. Assembling atstep 2840 may include performing analytics on the data.

Method 2800 may include producing the data at step 2850. Producing thedata at step 2850 may include reporting the data, including traditionalhuman delivery reporting, or providing the data in a scoring mart.

Method 2800 may include distributing the data at step 2860. Distributingat step 2860 may include reporting the SharePoint or self-help, orproviding the information to the myriad of workflow platforms includedwithin the business organization, such as a fraud system, underwritingsystem, and claims handling system.

As used herein, devices, such as the score mart and outlier engine andany other device described herein, may exchange information via anycommunication network which may be one or more of a telephone network, aLocal Area Network (“LAN”), a Metropolitan Area Network (“MAN”), a WideArea Network (“WAN”), a proprietary network, a Public Switched TelephoneNetwork (“PSTN”), a Wireless Application Protocol (“WAP”) network, aBluetooth network, a wireless LAN network, and/or an Internet Protocol(“IP”) network such as the Internet, an intranet, or an extranet. Notethat any devices described herein may communicate via one or more suchcommunication networks.

FIG. 29 shows an example computing device 2910 that may be used toimplement features describe above with reference to FIGS. 1-28. Thecomputing device 2910 includes a processor 2918, memory device 2920,communication interface 2922, peripheral device interface 2912, displaydevice interface 2914, and storage device 2916. FIG. 29 also shows adisplay device 2924, which may be coupled to or included within thecomputing device 2910.

The memory device 2920 may be or include a device such as a DynamicRandom Access Memory (D-RAM), Static RAM (S-RAM), or other RAM or aflash memory. The storage device 2916 may be or include a hard disk, amagneto-optical medium, an optical medium such as a CD-ROM, a digitalversatile disk (DVDs), or Blu-Ray disc (BD), or other type of device forelectronic data storage.

The communication interface 2922 may be, for example, a communicationsport, a wired transceiver, a wireless transceiver, and/or a networkcard. The communication interface 2922 may be capable of communicatingusing technologies such as Ethernet, fiber optics, microwave, xDSL(Digital Subscriber Line), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)technology, wireless cellular technology, and/or any other appropriatetechnology.

The peripheral device interface 2912 may be an interface configured tocommunicate with one or more peripheral devices. The peripheral deviceinterface 2912 may operate using a technology such as Universal SerialBus (USB), PS/2, Bluetooth, infrared, serial port, parallel port, and/orother appropriate technology. The peripheral device interface 2912 may,for example, receive input data from an input device such as a keyboard,a mouse, a trackball, a touch screen, a touch pad, a stylus pad, and/orother device. Alternatively or additionally, the peripheral deviceinterface 2912 may communicate output data to a printer that is attachedto the computing device 2910 via the peripheral device interface 2912.

The display device interface 2914 may be an interface configured tocommunicate data to display device 2924. The display device 2924 may be,for example, a monitor or television display, a plasma display, a liquidcrystal display (LCD), and/or a display based on a technology such asfront or rear projection, light emitting diodes (LEDs), organiclight-emitting diodes (OLEDs), or Digital Light Processing (DLP). Thedisplay device interface 2914 may operate using technology such as VideoGraphics Array (VGA), Super VGA (S-VGA), Digital Visual Interface (DVI),High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), or other appropriatetechnology. The display device interface 2914 may communicate displaydata from the processor 2918 to the display device 2924 for display bythe display device 2924. As shown in FIG. 29, the display device 2924may be external to the computing device 2910, and coupled to thecomputing device 2910 via the display device interface 2914.Alternatively, the display device 2924 may be included in the computingdevice 2900.

An instance of the computing device 2910 of FIG. 29 may be configured toperform any feature or any combination of features described above asperformed. In such an instance, the memory device 2920 and/or thestorage device 2916 may store instructions which, when executed by theprocessor 2918, cause the processor 2918 to perform any feature or anycombination of features described above as performed. Alternatively oradditionally, in such an instance, each or any of the features describedabove may be performed by the processor 2918 in conjunction with thememory device 2920, communication interface 2922, peripheral deviceinterface 2912, display device interface 2914, and/or storage device2916.

FIG. 30 shows a mobile device 3000 that is a more specific example ofthe computing device 2910 of FIG. 29. The mobile device 3000 may includea processor (not depicted), memory device (not depicted), communicationinterface (not depicted), peripheral device interface (not depicted),display device interface (not depicted), storage device (not depicted),and touch screen display 3024, which may possess characteristics of theprocessor 2918, memory device 2920, communication interface 2922,peripheral device interface 2912, display device interface 2914, storagedevice 2916, and display device 2924, respectively, as described abovewith reference to FIG. 29. The touch screen display 3024 may receiveuser input using technology such as, for example, resistive sensingtechnology, capacitive sensing technology, optical sensing technology,or any other appropriate touch-sensing technology. As shown in FIG. 30,the touch screen display 3024 may display a notification/alert document,with characteristics of any or any combination of documents describedabove with reference to FIGS. 1-28. The touch screen display 3024 mayreceive input from a user of the mobile device 3000, for filling in anotification/alert document shown in the touch screen display 3024.

Referring again to FIG. 29, an instance of the computing device 2910 mayalternatively or additionally be configured to perform any feature orany combination of features described above as performed. In such aninstance, the memory device 2920 and/or the storage device 2916 maystore instructions which, when executed by the processor 2918, cause theprocessor 2918 to perform any feature or any combination of features. Insuch an instance, the processor 2918 may perform the feature orcombination of features in conjunction with the memory device 2920,communication interface 2922, peripheral device interface 2912, displaydevice interface 2914, and/or storage device 2916.

Alternatively or additionally, an instance of the computing device 2910may be configured to perform any feature or any combination of featuresdescribed above as performed. In such an instance, the memory device2920 and/or the storage device 2916 may store instructions which, whenexecuted by the processor 2918, cause the processor 2918 to perform anyfeature or any combination of features described above as performed. Insuch an instance, the processor 2918 may perform the feature orcombination of features in conjunction with the memory device 2920,communication interface 2922, peripheral device interface 2912, displaydevice interface 2914, and/or storage device 2916.

Alternatively or additionally, an instance of the computing device 2910may be configured to perform any feature or any combination of featuresdescribed above as performed. In such an instance, the memory device2920 and/or the storage device 2916 may store instructions which, whenexecuted by the processor 2918, cause the processor 2918 to perform anyfeature or any combination of features described above as performed. Insuch an instance, the processor 2918 may perform the feature orcombination of features in conjunction with the memory device 2920,communication interface 2922, peripheral device interface 2912, displaydevice interface 2914, and/or storage device 2916.

Although FIG. 29 shows that the computing device 2910 includes a singleprocessor 2918, single memory device 2920, single communicationinterface 2922, single peripheral device interface 2912, single displaydevice interface 2914, and single storage device 2916, the computingdevice may include multiples of each or any combination of thesecomponents 2918, 2920, 2922, 2912, 2914, 2916, and may be configured toperform, mutatis mutandis, analogous functionality to that describedabove.

As used to herein, the term “document” broadly refers to and is notlimited to a paper document, an electronic file defining a paperdocument, a social media post, an SMS, an email, or any electronicmedium of communication used to deliver a message.

As used herein, the term “processor” broadly refers to and is notlimited to a single- or multi-core processor, a special purposeprocessor, a conventional processor, a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), adigital signal processor (DSP), a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in association with a DSP core, a controller, amicrocontroller, one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits(ASICs), one or more Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) circuits, anyother type of integrated circuit (IC), a system-on-a-chip (SOC), and/ora state machine.

As used to herein, the term “computer-readable medium” broadly refers toand is not limited to a register, a cache memory, a ROM, a semiconductormemory device (such as a D-RAM, S-RAM, or other RAM), a magnetic mediumsuch as a flash memory, a hard disk, a magneto-optical medium, anoptical medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVDs, or BD, or other type of devicefor electronic data storage.

Although the methods and features described above with reference toFIGS. 1-18 are described above as performed using the system 100 of FIG.1, the methods and features described above may be performed, mutatismutantis, using any appropriate architecture and/or computingenvironment. Although features and elements are described above inparticular combinations, each feature or element can be used alone or inany combination with or without the other features and elements. Forexample, each feature or element as described above with reference toFIGS. 1-18 may be used alone without the other features and elements orin various combinations with or without other features and elements.Sub-elements of the methods and features described above with referenceto FIGS. 1-18 may be performed in any arbitrary order (includingconcurrently), in any combination or sub-combination.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for universally repositing repeatedlyaccessible information, the system comprising: a plurality of datasources providing data stored in a plurality of storage devices, thedata representing at least a plurality of events, persons, places andthings; at least a processor coupled to a storage device, the processorfor searching each of the plurality of data sources using a plurality ofdata mining techniques to identify elements of the stored data byidentifying at least one pattern in the stored data including at leastone of machine learning and text mining; an outlier engine operating onthe identified elements to compare data points to averages andthresholds and determine relationships to provide additional data aboutspecific elements; the processor further for incorporating analytics onthe identified elements including a set of classifying characteristicsby executing instructions stored in the storage device to run computermodels on the identified elements to provide information about theelements including group analytics and scoring, and based on definedcriteria produce a ranking added to the elements and store the elementswith the associated ranking to universally reposit repeated access tothe information, the ranking including weighting the elements based onthe group analytics and scoring and automatically activating at leasttwo systems by providing the associated ranking directly via at leastone interface to the at least two systems to allow access to theelements with the associated ranking; and the at least one interfaceproviding the ranked data to allow repeated access.
 2. The system ofclaim 1 wherein the data is stored in at least one of a data warehouse,received via a third-party interface, and data stored in a data lake. 3.The system of claim 1 wherein the searching includes at least one ofdata mining, machine learning, and text mining.
 4. The system of claim 1wherein the analytics includes predictive analytics.
 5. The system ofclaim 1 wherein the analytics includes prescriptive analytics.
 6. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein the interface publishes to an underwritingsystem.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface publishes to afraud investigation system.
 8. The system of claim 1 wherein theinterface publishes to claim administration.
 9. The device of claim 1,wherein the processor determines a holdback associated with at least aportion of the information.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein theprocessor verifies the associated ranking with at least one priorranking associated with the information stored in a storage medium. 11.The device of claim 1, wherein the processor expires a previous recordfor a ranking associated with the information and stores a new recordassociated with the information in a storage medium.
 12. A computerizedmethod for universally repositing repeatedly accessible information, themethod comprising: storing a plurality of data from a plurality of datasources in a plurality of storage devices, the data representing atleast a plurality of events, persons, places and things; searching, by aprocessor, the plurality of stored data using a plurality of miningtechniques to identify at least one pattern in at least a portion of thestored data; staging the searched data in a database using an outlierengine on the at least a portion and patterns to group data, the outlierengine comparing data points to averages and thresholds and determinerelationships to provide additional data about specific ones of the atleast a portion and patterns; incorporating analytics on the staged databy including a set of classifying characteristics; computer modeling,via a processor, the data to produce group analytics and scoring;storing a ranking as part of the data determined based on the modelingand a defined criterion to universally reposit repeated access to thedata; and automatically activating at least two systems by providing thestored ranking directly via at least one interface to the at least twosystems to allow access to the stored materials with the associatedranking.
 13. The method of claim 12 further comprising publishing thestored materials with the associated ranking to an underwriting system.14. The method of claim 12 further comprising publishing the storedmaterials with the associated ranking to a fraud investigation system.15. The method of claim 12 further comprising publishing the storedmaterials with the associated ranking to claim administration.
 16. Themethod of claim 12 further comprising determining a holdback associatedwith at least a portion of the materials.
 17. The method of claim 12further comprising verifying the associated ranking with at least oneprior ranking associated with the materials stored in a storage medium.18. The method of claim 12 further comprising expiring a previous recordfor a ranking associated with the materials and storing a new recordassociated with the materials.
 19. A system for universally repositingrepeatedly accessible information, the system comprising: a plurality ofraw information stored in a plurality of storage devices, the rawinformation based on data collected by an insurance company, at leastone of the plurality of raw information being from a source external tothe insurance company and at least one of the plurality of rawinformation being from a source internal to the insurance company, thedata representing at least a plurality of events, persons, places andthings; at least a processor searching the plurality of raw informationusing a plurality of data mining techniques and identifying at least onepattern in at least a portion of the plurality of raw information; anoutlier engine operating on the identified raw information and patternsto group data by comparing data points to averages and thresholds anddetermine relationships to provide additional data about specific onesof the identified raw information and patterns; and the processorfurther incorporating analytics on the identified information includinga set of classifying characteristics by executing instructions stored inthe plurality of storage devices to run computer models on theincorporated information including group analytics and scoring and basedon defined criteria produce a ranking in the information and store theinformation with the associated ranking to universally reposit repeatedaccess to the information and automatically activating at least onesystem by providing the associated ranking directly via at least oneinterface to the at least one system to allow access to the informationwith the associated ranking.
 20. The system of claim 19 wherein theinterface publishes to an underwriting system, fraud investigationsystem, or claim administration system.